{"id":119242,"global_id":"naturalsciences.org\/calendar?id=119242","global_id_lineage":["naturalsciences.org\/calendar?id=119242"],"author":"22","status":"publish","date":"2026-02-11 17:42:55","date_utc":"2026-02-11 22:42:55","modified":"2026-03-31 17:32:35","modified_utc":"2026-03-31 21:32:35","url":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/event\/artemis-ii-launch-party\/","rest_url":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/tribe\/events\/v1\/events\/119242","title":"Artemis II Launch Party","description":"<div id=\"attachment_119247\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/artemis-ii\/\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-119247\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-119247\" src=\"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/artemis-ii-1024x796.png\" alt=\"A graphic with images of NASA\u2019s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, secured to the mobile launcher, are seen at Launch Pad 39B, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Next to that is Artemis II Crew Poster with images of four astronauts looking left in orange spacecuits and helmets with a large full moon in the background. Photo Credit: (NASA\/Joel Kowsky)\" width=\"1024\" height=\"796\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/artemis-ii-1024x796.png 1024w, https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/artemis-ii-300x233.png 300w, https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/artemis-ii-500x389.png 500w, https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/artemis-ii-768x597.png 768w, https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/artemis-ii-1536x1194.png 1536w, https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/artemis-ii.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-119247\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Credit NASA\/Joel Kowsky<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Join us as we cheer on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/artemis-ii\/\">Artemis II<\/a>, NASA&#8217;s first crewed Moon Mission in more than 50 years. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, as well as Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency, will become the first people to return to the Moon since Apollo 17. Celebrate North Carolina&#8217;s own astronaut, Christina Koch, as she becomes the first woman to orbit the Moon.<\/p>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">Be a part of this moment in human history! <b>Our watch party features:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">A live broadcast of the Artemis II launch.<\/li>\n<li data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">Live video call with Alan Rich, NASA\/JPL Solar System Ambassador, from the launch site at Kennedy Space Center.<\/li>\n<li data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">Remarks from Doug Lively and Michael Keefe, NASA\/JPL Solar System Ambassadors, and Dr. Rachel Smith, head of the Astronomy Astrophysics Research Lab at NCMNS.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Doors open at 5:15 PM with our first guest speakers at 5:30 PM. Earliest launch time is at 6:24 PM for Wednesday, April 1.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Registration is required.<\/strong> Space is limited. Launch date and time are subject to change by NASA. Current launch windows are between 6PM\u20131AM on select dates through April. Register now to secure your spot and receive watch party details and go\/no-gos via email.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-lg disabled\" role=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalsciences.ticketapp.org\/portal\/product\/132\/events\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-pressed=\"true\">Program is Full<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-119289\" src=\"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/NASA-Astronaut-Christina-Koch_1000x.jpg\" alt=\"NASA Astronaut Christina Koch stands in front of the Daily Planet Theater, wearing a blue NASA suit.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/NASA-Astronaut-Christina-Koch_1000x.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/NASA-Astronaut-Christina-Koch_1000x-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/NASA-Astronaut-Christina-Koch_1000x-500x334.jpg 500w, https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/NASA-Astronaut-Christina-Koch_1000x-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3 data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">NC Astronaut Christina Koch<\/h3>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">Koch attended North Carolina State University where she earned Bachelor of Science degrees in electrical engineering and physics and a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering, as well as an Honorary PhD. She attended high school at the North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham and White Oak High School in Jacksonville. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/christina-koch\/\">Learn more about her NASA and Space Flight experience.<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-52b3bd2 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"52b3bd2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<hr \/>\n<h3>FAQs<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Is a live launch guaranteed?<\/strong><br \/>\nNo. Launch opportunities for NASA\u2019s Artemis II mission open March 6 and continue through April. A decision will not be made on the first date to attempt launch until system checks are complete. As teams evaluate the rocket, spacecraft, ground systems and crew, they will gain the information necessary to formalize a date in the available windows. Launch opportunities also depend on orbital mechanics \u2013 the Moon must be in just the right position for the mission\u2019s planned trajectory.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\"><strong>What happens if the launch is postponed?<\/strong><br \/>\nA launch attempt will be made the following evening.<\/div>\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\"><strong>Will I receive updates if plans change?<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<p>We will notify all registrants by email if plans change <strong>in advance of<\/strong> the launch. The launch could be postponed after everyone arrives and takes their seats. This is the nature of space travel and is out of the control of Museum staff.<\/p>\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\"><strong>Will I need to register again if the launch is postponed?<\/strong><\/div>\n<p>No. Your initial registration will cover every opportunity to watch the launch with us at the Museum.<\/p>\n<\/div>","excerpt":"","slug":"artemis-ii-launch-party","image":false,"all_day":false,"start_date":"2026-04-01 17:30:00","start_date_details":{"year":"2026","month":"04","day":"01","hour":"17","minutes":"30","seconds":"00"},"end_date":"2026-04-01 21:00:00","end_date_details":{"year":"2026","month":"04","day":"01","hour":"21","minutes":"00","seconds":"00"},"utc_start_date":"2026-04-01 21:30:00","utc_start_date_details":{"year":"2026","month":"04","day":"01","hour":"21","minutes":"30","seconds":"00"},"utc_end_date":"2026-04-02 01:00:00","utc_end_date_details":{"year":"2026","month":"04","day":"02","hour":"01","minutes":"00","seconds":"00"},"timezone":"America\/New_York","timezone_abbr":"EDT","cost":"","cost_details":{"currency_symbol":"","currency_position":"prefix","values":[]},"website":"","show_map":false,"show_map_link":false,"hide_from_listings":false,"sticky":false,"featured":false,"categories":[{"name":"All Ages","slug":"all-ages","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":4,"taxonomy":"tribe_events_cat","description":"Programs and events targeted to audiences of all ages","parent":2,"count":943,"filter":"raw","id":4,"urls":{"self":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/tribe\/events\/v1\/categories\/4","collection":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/tribe\/events\/v1\/categories","up":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/tribe\/events\/v1\/categories\/2"}},{"name":"Special 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01:55:52","date_utc":"2015-06-22 01:55:52","modified":"2015-06-22 01:55:52","modified_utc":"2015-06-22 01:55:52","url":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/venue\/nature-exploration-center\/","venue":"Nature Exploration Center","slug":"nature-exploration-center","address":"11 West Jones Street","city":"Raleigh","country":"United States","state":"NC","zip":"27601","phone":"919.707.9800","stateprovince":"NC","geo_lat":35.782273500000002286469680257141590118408203125,"geo_lng":-78.639550200000002178057911805808544158935546875,"json_ld":{"@type":"Place","name":"Nature Exploration Center","description":"","url":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/venue\/nature-exploration-center\/","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"11 West Jones Street","addressLocality":"Raleigh","addressRegion":"NC","postalCode":"27601","addressCountry":"United 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